Centrifugal pump.



No. 678,!99. Q Patented July 9,'|9o|. J. RICHARDS.

CENTBIFUGAL PUMP.

(Application filed Feb. 21, 1901.)

(No maul.)

W/TNES ES: Q INVENTOH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN RICHARDS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 1

CENTRI'FUGAL PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,199, dated July 9,1901.

Application filed February 21, 1901. Serial No. 48,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, in the Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements in CentrifugalPumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal pumps, and especially to those ofthe vertical class, such as are employed to raise water from pits orshafts, and to certain useful improvements in such pumps.

The improvements consist in constructive features that diminish theextreme lateral dimensions of such pumps, in means to remove and renewperishable parts, a disposition of the discharge-chamber within thediameter of the impeller, and' various features of a constructive andoperative nature hereinafter fully described, and illustrated bydrawings herewith, forming a part of this specification. 7

The objects of the improvements are to reduce the lateral dimensions ofthe structure; to permit erection in narrow shafts and pits;

.to provide a free and curved waterway from the impeller to thedischarge-chamber; to adjustably support the impeller and its shaft, sothe former can be kept in register with the discharge-throat; to providerenewable diffusing vanes removable from the top, and to secure readyaccess to the various parts; also, other objects, as will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I representsa central vertical sectionthrough a vertical centrifugal pump embodying my improvements. Fig. IIis a view of the same pump at a right angle to Fig. I, partially insection and the air vessel removed; Fig. III, a plan View of a portionof the diffusing or throat ring around the impeller, and Fig. IV is atop view of the upper spindle-bearing.

Although the pump illustrated is described as centrifugal, the manner ofitsoperation is to a great extent by impact, as in the case of aturbine, which demands acute diffusing-vanes around the impeller, actingas guides to direct the water in away to utilize its tangential energyin the fullest manner possible. The main housing or casing consists of abase part 1 and the superimposed discharge-chamber 2, held together by abolted flange 3, and

the inlet-chamber 4:, attached to thepart 2 by flanges 5,as'shown inFig. I. The discharge-chamber 2 is provided with a discharge-nozzle 7,an air vessel 8, and checkvalve 9, the latter being required in chargingthe pump by exhausting the air therefrom; also, to prevent the waterfrom running back when the pump is stopped.

10 is the impeller, provided with vanes 12 in the usual manner, and 13the driving spindle or shaft, supported at the top in the adjustablethrust-bearing 14 by the intermediate bearing 15 and at the bottom inthe bearing 16.

Two inlet-nozzles 17 and 18 are provided, so that in drawing water fromwells two or more suction-pipes can be connected to these nozzles, thewater entering at one or both.

The diffusing-ring 19 has a solid plate at one side and a series ofacute vanes 20, that when the ring is inserted fit down upon the basepart 1, as shown in Fig. I. Said ringis removable for purposes ofrenewal. The vanes 20 are wedge-shaped partitions bounded by straightlines and are set at an inclination to the radius of the ring with theirpoints inward to meet withleast resistance and their sides divergent, soas to form straight-sided passages between them from the impellervanesto the curved passage-way 21, leading to the discharge-chamber,approximating a tangential direction.- This diffusing-ring 19 is set toregister with the discharge-way of the impeller and is held concentrictherewith by means of ledge 21, that fits into a seat around the part 2,by means of which this ring is clamped and held in contact with the basepart 1, 'as shown'in Fig. I. The driving shaft or spindle 13 is made ofsuch a size thatits weight with various rotary parts attached theretowill equal at all heads the upthrust upon the impeller 10, equal to thearea of the inlet-nozzle 22 multiplied by the discharge-pressure.Thisupthrust is due to the fact that the running joint at the peripheryof the impeller is not and cannot be made a tight one, and consequentlythe spaces above and below the impeller are filled with water atdischarge-pressure.

A renewable ring 23 is fitted around the inlet-nozzle to permit renewalin case of wear,

and a packing-gland 2a is provided to prevent the entrance of air or theescape of water around the spindle 13.

The upper spindle-bearing 14 is provided for vertical adjustment bymeans of the screwn'uts 25 on the studs 26, is split, as indicated inFig. IV, and recessed to receive the collars 27 on the spindle 13, asshown in Fig. II, which collars serve to retain the impeller 10 inregister with the diffusing-vanes 20. The bearing 14: is held in thebrackets 28, mounted on the inlet-nozzles 17 and 18, and each half ofthis bearing 14: being separately adjustable the collars are preventedfrom movement upward or downward, one-half of their area beingsufficient to resist the thrust,also the weight of the rotary parts,until the pump is started and hydraulic upthrust begins.

The discharge-chamber 2 is placed above and within the circumferencedescribed by the impeller 10 and is provided with a series ofinlet-passages 29, that register with the annular curved discharge-way30, leading from the impeller 10 to the chamber 31,

The check-valve 9 is attached to and removable with the cover 32, so asto be con-- veniently repaired if the seating is worn by sand that isdischarged with water drawn from deep wells.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention and themanner of its application in practice, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a centrifugal pump, a base-casing, acentral impeller-shaft stepped into and within said casing, arotaryincased impeller on said shaft, in said casing, a centralinlet-Way to said rotary impeller, an annular dischargechambersurrounding said inletway, outside of said casing, but within thediametral limits thereof, and a curved annular discharge passage-way,surrounding both casing and discharge-chamber, forming a circumferentialcommunication between the dischargeaperture of the impeller and the saiddis charge-chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In a centrifugal pump, a base-casing, a central impeller-shaftstepped into and within said casing, a rotaryincased impeller on saidshaft, in said casing, a central inlet-way to said rotary impeller, anannular dischargechamber surrounding said inlet-Way, outside of saidcasing, but within the diametral limits thereof, a curved annulardischarge passage-way surrounding both casing and discharge-chamber,forming a circumferential communication between the dischargeaperture ofthe impeller and the said discharge-chamber, and a removable annulardiffusion-ring having forwardly-inclined passages separated bywedge-shaped vanes or partitions, inserted between the dischargeapertureof the impeller and said curved discharge passage-Way, substantially asspecified.

3. In a centrifugal pump, a base-casing, a central impeller-shaftstepped into and within said casing, a rotary incased impeller on saidshaft, in said casing, a central inlet-way to said rotary impeller, anannular discharge chamber surrounding said inlet-way, outside of saidcasing, but within the diametral limits thereof, a curved annulardischarge passage-way surrounding both casing and discharge-chamber,forming a circumferential communication between the discharge-awn tureof the impeller and the said dischargechamber, and a peripheral outletto the said discharge-chamber, on which is mounted an air vessel,containing a removable checkvalve, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

J. JEROME LIGHTFOOT, HENRY H. Buns.

